Armed robbers hit six area businesses

NORTH COUNTY - Robbers armed with real guns, fake guns or knives
struck half a dozen times late Thursday and early Friday in mostly
unrelated incidents at businesses in Vista, San Marcos, law
enforcement officers said.

Half of the holdups were in Vista.

With more than $6,000 stolen, no suspects were in custody as of
noon Friday, sheriff's officials said in news releases.

The Vista robberies started at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, when a masked
gunman stole about $200 in cash and cigarettes at the Buena Vista
Liquor Store at 1526 S. Santa Fe Ave., according to Sgt. Mark
Johnston.

About an hour later, Johnston said, a man wearing a bandana as a
mask stole about $3,500 cash at knifepoint at the Dollar Tree Store
at 1098 E. Vista Way.

The robber got away in a dark-colored, older sport utility
vehicle driven by another man, the sergeant said.

Then at 9:43 p.m., deputies were called after an armed robbery
at the Wicked Good Pizza at 749 Shadow Ridge Drive, Johnston
said.

He said a masked gunman there stole about $200 in cash, and
forced one employee to lie face down on the floor while making the
second one open the cash register.

About a half-hour later, a robber also packing a gun got away
with about $2,400 in cash and a pizza delivery bag at Domino's
Pizza at 805 W. San Marcos Blvd. in San Marcos, according to Sgt.
Charles Cinnamo.

He said that holdup might be related to one of the earlier armed
robberies in Vista.

The unknown robber, wearing a bandana mask, entered the business
through a delivery door that wasn't locked after a driver returned
from his last pizza delivery, Cinnamo said.

"Don't do anything stupid," the sergeant quoted the robber as
telling the manager. "Give me the money."

Cinnamo said the manager placed the money in what may have been
a pizza delivery bag that the robber grabbed on his way into the
business, and the robber then walked out with the loot.

Farther inland on the Highway 78 corridor, Escondido police
caught five juvenile suspects after two holdups to steal alcohol
late Thursday afternoon at two businesses.

Three boys, ages 14, 15 and 17 were arrested when a 24-pack of
beer was stolen about 5 p.m. at Ralphs supermarket at 1315 E.
Valley Parkway, Lt. Mark Wrisley said.

He said the thieves were armed with what appeared to be a gun
and was later found to be a pellet gun. The suspects were placed in
Juvenile Hall, the lieutenant said.

Less than five minutes after that holdup, Wrisley said, two
youths stole liquor and threatened someone with a knife at the
Smart & Final store at 395 N. Escondido Blvd.

He said officers arrested two boys, ages 15 and 16, who were
released to their parents.